paul skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and former United States Air Force Academy cadet, is set to represent the United States at the World Baseball Classic and has said he “loves America, ” a commitment he framed publicly on Monday. He has also written a personal letter to young players about service and sacrifice and pledged a strikeout-linked donation program that supports military and first-responder communities. Updated 03: 30 PM ET.
Expanding details: roster, message and the pledge
paul skenes will wear U. S. A. at the World Baseball Classic and has made clear why that matters to him: his time at the United States Air Force Academy and deep respect for service shape how he views representing the country. In a letter to Little Leaguers he described reciting the Oath of Enlistment and the pride that moment delivered, and he connected that pride to putting on a national jersey.
Off the field, paul skenes has tied performance to philanthropy this season. He teamed up with the Gary Sinise Foundation for a strikeout campaign: for each strikeout he accrues, a donation will be made to that foundation to support military, veteran and first-responder communities. The pitcher’s recent on-field pedigree is clear in the record noted for last season: 216 strikeouts and the National League Cy Young Award.
Immediate reactions: Paul Skenes on service and the jersey
“First and foremost, I care because I’m from America. I love America, ” said Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, when asked about wearing the national uniform. Paul Skenes, former cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, added in his letter that the Oath of Enlistment was a defining moment that deepened his respect for those who serve and framed his decision to represent Team USA as more than sport.
Those statements have been echoed in how he describes his motivations. “There’s no bigger stage or no greater honor than wearing USA across your chest, ” Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, wrote and spoke, making the link between national service and international competition explicit. He also framed World Baseball Classic participation as “not serving but a pretty close second, ” a phrase that positions his play as symbolic tribute.
What’s next: the mound, the message
Expect paul skenes to step onto the World Baseball Classic mound as both an elite competitor and a visible tribute to service. Coverage will track his innings, his strikeout totals tied to the Gary Sinise Foundation pledge, and the personal narratives he has shared in his letter about the United States Air Force Academy and why wearing U. S. A. matters.
As the tournament progresses, attention will focus on how paul skenes balances competitive expectations with the public mission he has articulated: honoring service members and using performance to raise support for military and first-responder causes. Fans and officials will watch both the scoreboard and the charitable tally he has linked to his strikeouts; his statements and the letter he wrote provide the roadmap for how he wants that story told.
